Ryder Hesjedal’s Giro d’Italia triumph: what they’re saying

Cam Tucker, Vancouver Sun05.28.2012

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal holds the trophy after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Daniele Badolato
/ AP

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal celebrates on the podium after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal holds the trophy after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal celebrates after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Victoria's Ryder Hesjedal was on every screen, May 27th, at Cafe Muzette on Burrard street as cycling fans watched him win the Giro d'Italia cycling race.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Victoria's Ryder Hesjedal was on every screen, May 27th, at Cafe Muzette on Burrard street as cycling fans watched him win the Giro d'Italia cycling race.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Russ Maynard had his morning coffee, May 27th, at Cafe Muzette on Burrard street as he joined cycling fans cycling to watch Ryder Hesjedal win the Giro d'Italia cycling race.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal celebrates after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal holds the trophy after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal celebrates after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Fabio Ferrari
/ AP

Victoria's Ryder Hesjedal was on every screen, May 27th, at Cafe Muzette on Burrard street as cycling fans watched him win the Giro d'Italia cycling race.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Victoria's Ryder Hesjedal was on every screen, May 27th, at Cafe Muzette on Burrard street as cycling fans watched him win the Giro d'Italia cycling race.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal holds the trophy after winning the 95th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Hesjedal won the 95th Giro d'Italia finishing 16 seconds ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez in the general classification after overhauling the Spaniard's lead on the final stage in Milan. Hesjedal started the 21st stage 31 seconds behind Rodriguez, but completed the 28.2-kilometer (17.52-mile) individual time trial in 34 minutes, 15 seconds to finish the race in a total time of 91 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. He becomes the first Canadian to win the Giro. Marco Pinotti won the stage in 33:06.Gian Mattia D'Alberto
/ AP

“You can’t say Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal was at a loss for words after his history-making win in the Giro d’Italia.

In fact, he exhausted any dictionary list of adjectives you can find to describe what some have called the greatest single individual accomplishment by a Canadian professional athlete.”

• Ian Austen, New York Times sports reporter:

“Perhaps it was consolation for Canada's absence from the Stanley Cup finals. On Sunday, Ryder Hesjedal became the first Canadian to win the Giro d'Italia, or any of cycling's three major tours.”

• Ed Willes, The Province sports columnist:

“It’s hard to put in perspective the victory of Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal at the Giro d’Italia but let’s try.

It’s a little like a Canadian becoming a starting quarterback for an NFL team or a Canadian cracking the lineup of Manchester United or Barcelona. One supposes it’s possible in the way it’s possible we might colonize Mars one day.”

• Cathal Kelly, Toronto Star sports columnist:

“Facing down history and patrimony, [Ryder] Hesjedal becomes the first Canadian man not only to win a Grand Tour, but the first to ever stand on a podium.

It is nothing less than a generational achievement, and worthy of national celebration.”

• Oliver Moore and Erin Anderssen, Globe and Mail sports reporters:

“On Sunday, Ryder Hesjedal took one of cycling's most prestigious titles, heralding Canada's status as a contender in what was once considered a European sport.”

• Derek Spalding, Victoria Times Colonist reporter:

“The cycling community insists that [Ryder] Hesjedal carried the weight of his country on his back as he made his way into the record books, but with supportive family, friends and fans, that burden was just a little lighter.”

• John MacLeary, The Telegraph online:

“Such was the achievement of Hesjedal that Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, released a statement saying: ‘On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Ryder Hesjedal for his amazing victory in the Giro d'Italia.’”

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Ryder Hesjedal’s Giro d’Italia triumph: what they’re saying

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